Contraction Kites

This past week during our reading time we have been reviewing contractions. Students remembered that contractions are two words that are put together with an apostrophe. They then had an opportunity to put this knowledge to use by breaking apart a contraction into the two words that form it and create their own "contraction kite".

Each student was given a contraction on a small piece of paper such as "don't", "can't", or "wouldn't", etc. They then wrote this contraction on a diagonal piece of colored paper that would be the main part of their "contraction kite". The next step was to write each word that formed their contraction on a different ribbon shaped piece of paper for their kite. Then students wrote a sentence using their contraction on a white cloud piece of paper. Lastly, students combined these pieces together by taping a string on the back of each piece of paper to create their "contraction kite".

These beautiful kites are now hanging around our classroom, giving the room a springy feel!

Line Plots

This was our last week learning about graphs so we ended this math chapter by creating our own line plots. Students have learned that line plots show the frequency of data using x's displayed on a number line and they put this knowledge to use by surveying their classmates and creating their own line plots. 

Students were given different graphing ideas for their line plots such as "number of siblings", "number of shoes", or "number of aunts". Walking around the classroom, students surveyed their classmates to collect the data needed to create their line plot. Once finished, students used a ruler and created their line plots on a large sheet of paper. These line plots are now being displayed in our classroom window in the hallway. Feel free to come on out and study our classroom line plots!

Spring is here! 

We have decorated our classroom window with "hand flowers" to put us in the mood for spring weather!

Easter Eggs

Since Easter is coming up quickly, we wanted to focus on the meaning of Easter and why we celebrate this special holiday. In order to do this, our second graders enjoyed an Easter craft that allowed them to think about what Jesus has done for them.

Each student was given an Easter egg coloring page and they were told to color the egg as beautifully as they could. After coloring the egg, students carefully cut the egg into small puzzle pieces. Lastly, students put these puzzle pieces back together and glued them onto a separate colored piece of paper so that the egg was put back to what it was before it was cut.

As students completed this activity we discussed how it compared to our lives. As students colored the egg, we considered how the egg they were coloring was perfect and without fault. The same as when God created Adam and Eve, they were perfect and without sin when they first entered the Garden of Eden.

However, once students began to cut the egg into small puzzle pieces, students discussed how this compared to Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden of Eden. The egg was not perfect anymore and the same was true for the human race after sin entered the world. Once students began to put the puzzle pieces back together again and glue them onto their piece of paper, they could understand that this is exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross. By dying and coming back to life, He fixed our sin problem and put us back together again so that we can one day be without sin and be perfect again.

As your students bring these eggs home, ask them to explain this story and what it means for them. 

Happy Easter!